Lake Lambert's 5 touchdowns propel Byrd to Division I select quarterfinals

By LaMar Gafford 

Photo of Byrd quarterback Lake Lambert

SHREVEPORT - After going one-and-done in the playoffs last season, Byrd senior quarterback Lake Lambert was determined not to let that happen again.

Lambert rushed for 267 yards and five touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets defeated Alexandria Senior High, 49-10, in the regional round of the Division I select playoffs Friday.

“I don’t think I’ve ever scored three in a game,” Lambert laughed. “But it was a good time to do it.”

Averaging more than 33 yards a carry on just eight attempts, each of Lambert’s touchdowns went for at least 19 yards as Byrd pounded the Trojans for 475 rushing yards.

Lambert set the tone for his big night with a 97-yard touchdown run on the Yellow Jackets’ first play from scrimmage to give them a 7-0 lead just three minutes into the game.

Byrd (8-3) extended its lead to 35-0 at halftime as Lambert scored on runs of 56, 19 and 34 yards. His fifth, a 50-yard scamper, made it 42-3 midway through the third.

“I think our biggest thing was to not underestimate them,” Lambert said. “Especially after losing in the first round last year. That was the last thing we wanted to do."

His counterpart, Joe Bordelon, was not as lucky as he threw two crucial interceptions that changed the outlook of the game.

The first interception came when ASH was trying to counter the first Lambert touchdown, but instead, it led to LaMichael Taylor coming down with it to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Tyler Nichols.

The second came when the Trojans trailed 28-0, and were desperately trying to get something going, but Christian Jones had other plans as his interception set up Lambert’s fourth rushing touchdown and a 35-0 lead.

ASH (5-7) did not get on the board until 26 minutes into the game, when Channing Meche made a 25-yard field goal, but by then it was too late as touchdowns by Lambert and Devon Strickland triggered the running clock with the Jackets up, 49-3.

“I said all season long that these guys were a bunch of competitors,” Byrd coach Stacey Ballew said. “This is a great group and I love them to death.”

The Trojans finally scored a touchdown in the fourth with J.T. Lindsay running for 42 yards, but in all, they could not keep pace with Byrd’s running game with just 347 yards.

ASH senior Datlan Cunningham finished with 149 yards on 24 carries, while Bordelon was 12-of-21 passing with 131 yards.

Byrd will travel to New Orleans next week to face No. 3 John Curtis in the quarterfinals.

“I’m ready for them,” Lambert said. “We’re going to play a team with the most crowns.”